48 REPORT— 1872. 



the same. Important donations are promised from Dr. Alexander Agassiz, Cam- 

 bridge, Mass., comprehending the publications of both his father and himself. 



To secure the development of the libraiy on a greater scale, it will be 

 necessary to inake general applications. For this purpose, Dr. Dohrn, 

 assisted by several of the greatest German publishing firms, is preparing an 

 appeal to all German publishers, and hopes also to succeed with a like 

 demand in Italy. The Committee hope that the British Association will 

 lend its moral assistance to a similar demand in this country, not only by 

 granting a complete set of its own publications, but by recommending a 

 similar act to other scientific' bodies and private persons. 



The Committee are further glad to announce that some Steam Navigation 

 Companies are prepared to grant a free passage to the Naturalists, and free 

 transport for the goods sent to or from the Zoological Station. 



Dr. Dohrn contemplates a new step for the purpose of securing a larger 

 income for the Naples Station. He is about to offer to several Governments, 

 Universities, and Scientific Bodies working-tables in the Laboratory of the 

 Station for a certain annual sum. The payment of this sum would confer 

 upon the subscribing Government, University, or Society the riglit of appoint- 

 ing naturalists, who, on presenting a certificate to the administration of the 

 Station, would be furnished with a working-table and admitted to a partici- 

 pation in all the other very extensive advantages of the Station. 



The Committee think it well earnestly to advocate this new step of the 

 administration of the Naples Station, the more so as it lessens the burden 

 of the single naturalist, enabling even such as are destitute of means to 

 profit by the manifold advantages of the Station, while it guarantees a fixed 

 annual income to the latter, which would be employed in improving the 

 technical and other means of investigation. 



Fourth Report on the Fauna of South Devon. By C. Spence Bate^ F.R.S. 



In presenting to this Association the Fourth Report of the Marine Fauna of 

 the South Coast of Devon and Cornwall, it cannot be supposed that any great 

 increase of novelties, either in species or genera, can be added to the forms 

 known ; and to recapitulate those already reported is unnecessary. My 

 attention therefore has been directed more especially towards the develop- 

 ment and habits of animals that have fallen within my range of observation. 

 Facility has been given in this direction by the establishment at Plymouth, 

 under my suggestion and plan, of a marine pond for the purpose of keeping 

 and storing animals for the aquarium at the Crystal Palace. Already it 

 has given us opportunities of observing the habits of animals that could 

 scarcely be obtained under any less favourable circumstances. These oppor- 

 tunities win become still more numerous and valuable as the conditions of 

 the pond become more adapted to deep-sea species. 



The pond is formed out of a deep gully in the limestone shore, and much 

 of it extends far into a cave beneath the cliff'. The pond is irregular in 

 shape and depth, and affords many crannies, nooks, and corners for animals 

 to live or take refuge in. At the entrance, where the water is deepest, the 

 width of the pond is about eleven feet, but at other places it is more than 

 double that extent ; and when the sea rises to the higher spring-tides the length 

 of the pond extends upwards of eighty feet from the wall that separates it 

 from the waters of the Sound. The rocks, which were formerly covered with 



